Ulpana Girls Academy - Kiryat Arba
"Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them: Hashem's appointed fesitvals that you are to designate as holy convocations - these are My appointed festivals."
(Vayikra 23,2)
"that you are to designate [them] as holy convocations"
From this phrase Chazal taught that the consecration of the festivals (the chagim) was to be made by the Sanhedrin (supreme court) through their designation of Rosh Hodesh (the proclamation of the new month) and _not by G-d_. As such the text reading "that you are to designate [them] as holy convocations" is actually to be understood as if written you and _only you_ are to designate the holiness of the festivals even if you should be mistaken as to the exact day beginning the new month.This is the reason, claims Rabbi Avraham Ibn Ezra in his commentary to the Torah (Shmot 12,2), that the secrets of the leap year and the rules of the Hebrew calendar were not explicitly written in the Torah; for HaKadosh Baruch Hu said," Even though there are certain forbidden items from the Torah which involve the punishment of Karet (excommunication of the soul), which are entailed in this matter, such as eating on Yom Kippur or eating Chametz on Pesach; I have no festivals other that those which _you_ will designate." (See Gemara Rosh Hashana Page 21A).
Similar to the festivals also the determination of the national fast days for the destruction of our land and the Mikdash was also given over to the Sages of Israel; for the prophet says (Zechariya 8, 19) in connection with the approval of the fast days and their cancellation. "... These should be for the House of Yehuda as festivals." That is - as the festivals are determined by your Beit Din so to will be the fast days. (See Gemara Rosh Hashana Page 18B).
On these lines, HaRav Yehuda Chai Alkalai (ZT"L) (One of the leading early proponents of modern Zionism), explained in his book "Minchat Yehuda" about 150 years ago that the secretive nature of the time and stages of the _Redemption of Israel_ stems from the fact that this matter was also handed over to the spiritual leaders and Torah scholars to deal with. Thus Rav Alkalai called upon his fellow sages to exploit each and every would-be sign of the oncoming redemption in order to bring this great expected phase in Jewish history to fruition.
HaRav Chayim Ben-Atar (Or HaChayim Hakadosh) had the same idea as Rav Alkalai but much earlier, as he wrote about 260 years ago in his commentary to the Torah (Vayikra 25, 25) "Redemption will start with a stirring in men's hearts urging them: 'Do you feel secure living in a strange land, exiled from your G-d? What pleasure does life offer so far removed from the lofty values that were yours, in the presence of the Almighty?' Superficial, ill conceived desire, will then become repulsive and a spiritual craving will awaken your soul, improving your actions until you will be worthy in G-d's eyes to be redeemed.
"Who then will be called to stand in judgment? The Jewish leaders of the diaspora who throughout the years did not encourage their people to return to Zion will be made to bear the shame of a forsaken homeland."
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Shalom Horowitz
Rabbi Horowitz is a Rav Mechanech at the Ulpana
Girls Academy - Kiryat Arba
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